Woman in court over theft of Raila's bodyguard firearm

A woman was on Tuesday arraigned in a Kisumu court and charged with stealing a pistol and cash from a police officer who was on duty as a security escort to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Ms Maurine Adhiambo appeared before senior Principal Magistrate Samuel Atonga to answer three counts of theft.

In the first count, she was accused of stealing a government-issued Ceska pistol valued at Sh150,000 from Mr Edwin Okinda at Kisumu’s Dalc Hotel.

Secondly, she was accused of stealing 15 nine-millimetre bullets from the said officer, while the third charge was the theft of the officer’s Sh23,000 cash.

All offences were said to have been committed on April 14. (READ: Woman arrested after Raila bodyguard loses gun)

The court heard that Ms Adhiambo committed the offences with others not before court. She pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The case investigating officer Sergeant Violet Makori, through a sworn affidavit, requested the court not to release Ms Adhiambo on bond, stating that there are items that were yet to be recovered from the accused.

Sergeant Makori added that Ms Adhiambo had been involved in a series of thefts and more charges were likely to be preferred against her.

Despite protests from Ms Adhiambo’s lawyer Dan Odengo, the magistrate allowed the police to detain her until Thursday when she will be brought back to court to know the bond terms.

Mr Edwin Okinda, the officer whose pistol was stolen, was in the dock last week where he pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to safeguard his firearm.

Mr Okinda had been performing escort duties for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who had visited Suba district that Sunday.

The officer had retired to a Dalc Hotel room with Ms Adhiambo on the night when his gun and cash disappeared.